After more than three years of working to open, the Mt. Hood Rec Center, a
marijuana dispensary in Rhododendron, opened its doors on Sept. 9 last year.
Sara Pool, the dispensary manager, noted that the first months were buoyed
by local support before the ski resorts opened and tourists came to the
mountain.

“They have been such a resounding positive influence, I’ve never seen
anything like it,” said Pool, who has experience managing four other
dispensaries in the past five years. “We’re just trying to keep them coming
back for more. Business is building, hoping to maintain that growth.”

But as Pool noted, the business is focused on building the local ties as its
philosophy, including creating an environment that encourages repeat
customers, responding to feedback and suggestions on what people would like
to see, keeping prices low and utilizing local grow operations and vendors for
marijuana and accessories. And beyond that, Pool added that the hope is that
the business can help spur growth in the Rhododendron community.

“We want this town to be a stopping point, not a passing point,” she said,
adding that she’s been involved with the Rhododendron Community Planning
Organization. “We’re just really trying to tap into our local community and
what they have to offer.”

The shop offers a wide range of products, including marijuana flowers,
cartridges, tinctures, pipes and “grab-n-go” items geared toward outdoor
enthusiasts, including collapsible bongs. And as new products are introduced
(such as beverages); Pool notes the dispensary will get them in stock.

But the store will also emphasize education, including how marijuana impacts
the body, how to best prepare for using it (such as hydrating and taking care
with edibles) and helping people who use the drug for medicinal purposes.

“We get incredibly scientific, as much as we can, so people are aware as
possible,” Pool said. “The more you know about just regular biology and
physiology, it just ties in.

“What we focus on is anything that’s going to help anybody from cancer to
fibromyalgia,” she added.

Pool noted that the idea for the dispensary started about four years ago, with
the owners, including developer Randy Rapaport, purchasing the property
approximately three and a half years ago. She added that Clackamas County
put a hold on their building permits as part of a moratorium on medicinal
marijuana licenses, delaying work on the business, but they were able to work
with the county to get things rolling again.

The Mt. Hood Rec Center is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and is located
at 73410 Hwy. 26 in Rhododendron. For more information, call 503-622-4272,
email info@mthoodrec.com or visit www.mthoodrec.com.